Quote:
Ed Kolis said:
Standard Technologists - Research as normal.
Cutting Edge Technologists - Race is geared toward the latest & greatest new toys.
Refined Technologists - Race wants to make sure technology is properly tested before use.
I just mentioned a few to get you guys started! 
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I would approch it this way. Cutting or bleeding edge would have lower research cost in everything, but they would need two on board to keep one working. Easily simulated by doubling the cost of all the componets.
Refined tech would take more to research before full production, which is what refining is really. But once refined things would be light, reliable, and cheap to produce. Maybe double research cost and half componet cost.
If these ratios are balanced, there could be other different levels. Bleeding edge is 1/2 research cost and double system cost. Cutting edge is 3/4 research and 150% cost. Normal guys, then refined items at 150% research and 3/4 cost and brilliantly artistic that take 2x research and cost half as much.
On another thought, you could have people wanting the latest and greatest required to retrofit their ships and only produce ones with the newest componets. Destroying any tech two levels down or more of the current one and not allowing repair. I don't know how a mod could do this. advantages could be added in retrofit costs. I am not sure if repair rate should be same, increased or decreased. At first I thought increase it, but after writing the stuff below, maybe decrease would be best. After al, who the heck can repair this new fangled stuff anyway.
The sated "Good enough for my grandfather" types could have very high retrofit costs, but repair of damage would be easier.